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19 May 2013

Jaime Wright Sundsmo Interviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

JAIME WRIGHT is the administrator
of Coffee Cups & Camisoles and a member of the Christian Fiction Historical
Society blog. She writes historical romance with a suspenseful slant and is a
member of ACFW.

JAIME, welcome to Overcoming With God. We appreciate your willingness to share your
testimony of overcoming with our readers.

Would you tell us about the most difficult
thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help? (transparency
appreciated!)

Bringing out the big
guns in the first question, huh? Well, there are a lot of trials I could draw from, but most
recently it was the year 2012. Typically, the birth of a newborn is a good
thing, but in April after my son was born, I was hit very hard with postpartum
depression. I was a high risk case for it because my first three pregnancies
ended up being miscarriages and my daughter was in the NICU for the first bit
of her life. My son’s birth was 100% normal. The doctor said I’d probably be
traumatized by normality and have a huge mood swing down from expecting and
preparing for trauma. He was right. By the end of my son’s first week of life I
was concocting ways to have my sister-in-law adopt him or even leave him on the
hospital doorstep. I had no emotional bond to him whatsoever—he was an
interruption, a betrayal of my affection to my daughter, and an exhausting
addition to our lives. After my sister-in-law interpreted my emotion, my
husband hurried me off to the doctor to get assistance and get me back on my
feet. During this time, my husband was going through a bout of his chronic
insomnia and average 8 hours of sleep a week. I was bit by a deer tick and
contracted Lyme’s disease. My daughter went through major separation anxiety
with the entrance of her brother and became prone to tantrums and long hours of
tears.

It was a difficult
year but a phenomenal one as well. The grace of God is exceptional and
receiving nothing but support and understanding from a network of friends and
family only bolstered the sense of humility in being able to receive help and
love and assistance.

My Lyme’s disease is
now cured. My son is a mommy’s boy and I can hardly be without him he’s so dear
to my heart. My daughter loves on her brother and refuses to let anyone “be
mean to him” and my husband has upped his weekly amount of sleep to ten hours
(so we could still use prayer there!)

What is your favorite bible verse and
why?

Sheesh. I have a lot
but the most poignant one lately has been Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that
I am God”. I have a habit of talking my way out of problems, controlling,
planning and KNOWING what I need to do. This verse has been a slap upside the
head to shut up, sit back, and let God be GOD!

What has been the most important thing
you hope your readers will get from your blogs and why?

I’d love for readers
to connect with a healthy sense of community—the sort of fellowship that
blesses and bolsters us on a daily basis. It’s been such a great place for me
to find some rest and peace in the midst of a hectic life—I hope I can offer
the same in return.

As you researched your manuscripts, did
you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

Tons. Usually my
research is very historically inclined, but along with it I put myself in the
shoes of those who lived in that time and a million potential Spiritual themes
arise. Those are always challenging for me because so often, I’m going through
similar experiences.

In this latest work, do you have any
topics that will be useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through
reading about a disorder or situation?

Not so much
medically, but Spiritually I’d say yes. My latest manuscript addresses the
issue of extreme legalism and lack of grace that comes with a hard past. In an
effort to protect from the bad choices we made or experienced, we create laws
and rules while eliminating the grace of God. Hopefully, my readers (when I
have them!) will be able to engage in growing in
their Spiritual well-being through my books. While I write for entertainment, I
also pray that each novel has a lesson and theme that can be applied to our
Spiritual walk.

Thank you for coming by, LINDA! I have been in churches like that and I quite agree. If we were to follow an extreme set of rules such as in parts of the Old Testament or man made rules, Jesus would not have had to die on the cross. Not that liberty gives us an occasion to sin, though.

Another great interview Carrie. I especially appreciated the sharing of Jaime's experience in the past year of postpartum depression and all that accompanied that year for herself & her husband. I have personally never experienced postpartum depression, but know that it is a real situation & I applaud Jaime for talking about her experience with it and pray that maybe someone else will find her sharing to help them in dealing with postpartum depression.

It seems that trials like this often include other things, making it a year of awful situations to endure, and making it a year that nobody would ever want to repeat. (I had a year like that in 1994 that included teen rebelliousness, & breast cancer among other things) and God also brought me and my family through, just as He did with Jaime and her family. What a great God we have! He never said we would ever have a trial-free life, but that He would be WITH us THROUGH all of it! I am intrigued with the idea of a character in a story dealing with extreme legalism vs. Grace & would like to read this book. I would also like to be entered in this drawing.Vicki OWGvmarney(at)hotmail(dot)com

Thanks for sharing, VICKI. It seems the Amish books deal with this struggle alot. I wonder if many of the Amish in reality deal with it or if it just makes for good reading? In the book I just sent you, you will read about this very same type of struggle with the characters.

Thank you for being our guest this week on OWG, JAIME! We appreciate you for sharing what had to have been a very dark time in your life. It encourages others to hear these testimonies of God's faithfulness and provision during trying times when it seems as though "when it rains it pours." Have been through times like that as well and seen how the mighty hand of God worked, but at the time it was so dark it seemed as though He was nowhere around.

Enjoyed Jamie's interview!! Jamie and her family have my prayers. I'm sure her book would be a great read. Please enter me in your contest!! Thank you for the opportunity to participate!!Barbara Thompsonbarbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sorry for the really hard time you had to go through Jaime, but so glad that you found GOD right there with you to see you through. It is hard sometimes to turn loose of our problems and give them completely to HIM. I read this part in a poem once. He said You brought your problem to me, but you never turned it loose. I think this is sometimes my trouble. And, hoping your husband will start sleeping better very soon. Right now I'm dealing with being sick and wrecking my car. No other vehicle or person involved, thank GOD, but just in the dumps. Mainly because they said it was totaled because of damage underneath. So now my son is looking for another car for me. I thought just would be without until it could be repaired. Please pray my son will find me a good used in my range. Know will need some money to go with my Ins. money. I would love to win one of Karen's books. Thanks Carrie for this interview and chance to win a book. Love all of you OWG girls. MAXIE

MAXIE, I'm so sorry that happened to you but thankful you weren't hurt. Sometimes we get something taken away from us so that God can give us something better. So we will be praying you up a car that you really love that's within your budget, dear lady. We all love you, too!

It is often during the most trying years of our life that God speaks to us & we realize the extent of His love & grace - after living my life "my way" (years ago) & realizing that my situation was only getting worse & I couldn't "fix" it, I renewed my relationship with Him. That's not to say that I have had no problems since then - there have been many, but He has given me the strength to endure them peacefully. So glad to hear that you are having a less difficult year, Jaime!

Jaime, thank you for being so open about your struggles last year. I'm thankful things are on an even keel now, except for your husband's insomnia. I can't even imagine existing on ten hours of sleep a week! I'm also thankful that God is with us as we go through trials and we often come out even better than before, since He has strengthened us more.We can hope and pray your work will be published; your themes sound good. I read to be entertained, but I also grow through reading Christian fiction since most authors skillfully weave in spiritual lessons through the story.

I don't know how he exists on 10 hrs a week of sleep either! :P Exhausting. But the Lord gives him strength, that's for sure. Hopefully one of these days you can read one of my books too -- meanwhile we've no shortage of great authors to read! Namely - Karen Witemeyer!

Jaime, Bless you for being so open and honest about your struggle after your son was born. I understand that PPD is pretty horrible for some women. I'm thankful to have never experienced it much at all, if any. So glad you received help and that things are going better. Not sure how your husband manages on 10 hrs a week. That has got to be exhausting for all of you. I will say a prayer for rest!

I enjoyed reading the interview about Jaime Wright. Psalm 46:10 is my verse also. I have a tendency to either lead, follow, or get out of my way. I know exactly what she is talking about.I would love to win one of Karen's books. It doesn't matter which one but would prefer paperback.Thanks!Janet E.von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

JAIME thank you for sharing with us on OWG this week. Your testimony of Overcoming your PPD was very touching, I am so glad you received the help you needed. I can sympathize with your husband, I don't sleep very much either but I believe he has me beat with only 10 hours a week, I'll be praying he can get some rest. Psalms 46:10 is a great scripture but can be a hard one to follow, it's so easy to forget that GOD is in control of our lives and HE ALWAYS KNOWS BEST!!

Jaime, so glad to have you on. Thanks so much for sharing your testimony with us! I am at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference where I am representing The Book Club Network. Great to see so many folks commenting!!!

Thx Julie :) God is the King of restoration and the heart protector! And out of it, I got the most drop dead gorgeous little charmer who smothers me in slobber kisses every morning. (Best type of kissin' if you ask me!) :)

Lovely to have you share your encouraging testimony of overcoming here on OWG, JAIME! Great to meet you too! :) That sounds like such a difficult year for you and your family, and boy do I know about those tough years or seasons and am so thankful that God is our anchor and brings us through!! I have no idea though how your husband lives on 10 hours a week, somehow that seems like a miracle in itself! ;) Will be praying for him Jamie. Btw, you have such a lovely smile! :)

I can't imagine having postpartum depression that bad. I suffered from it just a little bit after my first baby. My husband was getting ready to deploy and I had just moved across country from Montana to North Caroline after being in Montana my whole life. At the time it seemed like it would never end.

I really enjoy Karen's books and would LOVE to win her newest. MelissaBattles2001@hotmail.com

Oh Jaime, what a wonderful testimony! I can't believe you have gone thru all that. God has given you wonderful strength. Thank you for opening up to us and helping us to remember we do need God's help every day of our lives!Susan Pfarmygirl at hotmail dot com

Wow! Jamie, my husband and I were never blessed with children, but I can identify with your husband as I have suffered from insomnia off and on thru my life. Thanks so much for your testimony. I am so glad that things are much better in your life.

Beautiful testimony, Jaime. Thank you so much for sharing this story with us. Finding out about another author's struggles, to me, seems to make me want to read their books. Somehow, sharing concerns, difficult circumstances, and a wonderful testimony makes authors more human, their work more accessible. Joy Ross Davis

Excellent interview. Thank you for being so transparent with your answer, Jaime. I could relate on various levels. The Lord has used the ups and downs we have gone through in recent years to teach me many lessons (some of which you shared) regarding "seasons". I've learned how He works in seasons in our life, always looking for what is best for us, even if we may not see it at the time and fight it all the way. Thank you again for sharing. I click on the links to connect with you and look forward to doing soon.

Jamie and Ladies, loved the interview . It seems like Jamie has really been through a lot . Jamie I loved your testimony and telling about your postpartum depression . Proud to see that you held onto faith and God to get you through. Thanks for everything. Would love to win one of Karen's books. I love reading her books.Blessingslizd225(at)gmail(dot)com

Jamie, this was a very moving and inspiring interview. I remember feeling so inadequate after my daughter was born that I was imagining placing her with some other more "deserving" couple. She was a NICU baby and her brother a year before her, too. I guess I must have had post partum, now that I look back. Thank you for your transparency. It is so good to see the Lord work and move through family and friends, and proof now that "this too shall pass". Bless you!

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Winners for 2017 per random.org:

Box of book from my "Just" post:

A copy of Jocelyn Green's new novel, A Refuge Assured Alison B.

From my Easy Way or Hard Way post - choice of any of my upcoming collections: Melanie Backus

From my Trust post

one of my 2018 releases from Barbour in 2018: First Love Forever collection : Mindy H